MOVEMENT: The Principle of Design
A Guide for Teachers
MOVEMENT is a principle of design that seems deceptively simple -- you may think that it only means one thing, but there’s actually a lot more to it than meets the eye. Having movement within your artwork will give it much more visual interest, so let’s start off by defining what movement is, exactly!
Are your students not fans of reading? Don’t worry. We have a short and sweet video all about movement that gives them a fun and quick rundown of the principle, suitable for grades 5 - 12!
What is Movement?
Movement is the principle of design used to give artists the ability to lead a viewer’s eyes around an art piece. For instance, artists will create pathways within their artwork so that a viewer will automatically look at a piece in a certain direction. Movement is also used to show physical action on a still image, such as showing an action scene, a character running away, dancing, or fighting another character. But movement is used in more than just pathways and punches -- so let’s dive in!
Movement with Rhythm and Repetition
Rhythm and repetition are two other principles of design that contribute to movement within a piece. Repetition entails elements repeating to create unity (another principle of design), throughout the artwork. Rhythm is the use of patterns to create a “visual tempo”. Sort of like music in a composition, but purely visual, this visual tempo is what creates a sense of movement. Based on the pattern present, our eyes automatically travel across the piece “in time with the rhythm.” This can be done with anything from a simple pattern of shapes, to the chain links of a necklace, to a rising staircase!
Metamorphosis III Excerpt 4 by MC Escher is a perfect example of movement created with rhythm and repetition. The morphing birds to boats to fish create a pattern that moves from left to right, which automatically makes our eyes follow that pattern. We know it moves from left to right because of the direction each of the figures face, which makes them appear to move across the piece. The direction that elements face is a great strategy to move eyes in a direction that you want them to!
Movement with Colour and Value
Colour, an element of art, can create focal points within our piece that lead our eyes to specific places by using contrast. Contrast, another principle of design, is all about opposite elements being placed next to each other in order to emphasize certain subjects. In order to create contrast with colour, you’ll usually want to use a colour with light values (like yellow) against a colour with dark values (like dark blue). Based on whatever there’s less of, our eyes will automatically travel to that point. You can even use your values strategically to have eyes go in a certain pattern across your piece, such as having them start with a super high contrast and then slowly fade out into a lower contrast!
Fiesta in Figueres by Salvador Dali is an excellent use of colour to create movement. This may not look like much of his popular work, and that’s because this is an early piece of his! The bright yellow contrasted against the dark blue background creates an instant spot where our eyes travel to in the center of the crowd, but Dali also utilizes leading lines to create a pathway. But let’s define what those are before we dive in too deep!
Movement with Line
Line is another element of art that’s probably one of the more common ways to create movement within an art piece. As mentioned previously, leading lines are a very commonly utilized way to create a “visual path” for a viewer's eyes to follow. Sometimes they’re implied, such as birds flying in a certain direction or the angle of perspective, or sometimes they’re literal, like a pathway or literal arrows. These all create a very obvious direction for a viewer’s eyes to follow, and can be used strategically to create visual movement.
Action lines are another strategy that’s used within figure drawings to create movement. These lines, while not usually kept in the final drawing, are always implied within the way a figure moves, making them feel more dynamic. Action lines are also known as gestures.
Horizon by Jon Harris uses lines in two ways to show movement -- one way is with the perspective the orange panels create, which leads our eyes to travel towards the purple pillar in the center. The second is with the little purple objects that travel around the pillar, creating an oval shaped frame for the focal point. Conveniently, they’re also shaped like arrows, so our eyes know to go from the bottom to the top.
Implied Movement/Action
This is probably the most used way to show movement, and probably the one you thought of first! Implied movement/action is just drawing someone or something that’s actually moving, whether they’re running, jumping, being shoved across a room -- if it’s supposed to be moving, that’s implied movement!
In order to create that movement, dynamic poses are needed for people and animals. Those poses feel more fluid and utilize lines of action very heavily. The more cartoony the style, the more exaggerated they are with the line of action. Sometimes, extra lines are added on top of the figures to emphasize quicker movement, though this is usually only done with more graphic/cartoony styles.
One Punch Man illustrated by Yusuke Murata utilizes a lot of that movement within its panels -- whether they’re fighting, running, or just on a light stroll. This panel in particular utilizes those extra action lines to emphasize movement, but draws them along the perspective to emphasize the direction of their march.
Movement is a design principle that goes beyond fine art as it is also widely used in fashion, furniture and accessories, as well as branded promotional products. Movement is a principle that you probably already have the hang of -- at the very least, you probably already knew how to use implied movement and action. But practicing the expression of movement with these elements of art and principles of design will make your artwork even more dynamic and visually interesting, whether there are figures or not!
If you’d like to learn more about the principles of design or the elements of art, be sure to tune into our YouTube playlist that has concise videos all about the elements of art and the principles of design! More classroom resources like this one can be found on our art resources for teachers page, where we’ve covered all of the elements of art.
If you’d like worksheets related to the elements and principles of art, check out our teachers pay teachers page, where you can get worksheets and lesson plans for your classroom!
Any teacher now can facilitate world-class visual art lessons — even with no art experience! Get our art courses designed for classrooms, complete with step by step video lessons, assessment tools and handouts you can use every year.
If you're an educator, you're eligible for special pricing — 50% off our regular course price! Art Projects for Your Classroom
Pin this for later:
Click that heart if you like this post! If you found this helpful, please help us share the knowledge with others.
Pristine the lords new launch by pristine properties
Toplumun her kesimine hitap ederek bireylerin huzurlu, güvenli ve mutlu paylaşımlarda bulunmasını sağlamak, kişiler arası iletişimi, sosyal ve kültürel paylaşımı arttırarak toplumun psikososyal durumunu iyileştirmek, samimi, gerçek ve duygu yoğunluğu olan arkadaşlıkları teşvik ederek, kişiler arası yardımlaşmanın önemini kavratmak, hayatın her anını tüm güzellikleriyle kullancıların eş zamanlı birlikte yaşamasını sağlamak.
https://www.gevezeyeri.com/
https://www.gevezeyeri.com/cinselsohbet.html
https://www.gevezeyeri.com/gabilesohbet.html
https://www.gevezeyeri.com/cinsel-chat
https://www.gevezeyeri.com/gabile-chat
https://www.gevezeyeri.com/chatsohbet
https://www.gevezeyeri.com/chat.html
https://www.gevezeyeri.com/sohbet.html
https://www.gevezeyeri.com/mobil-sohbet.html
https://www.gevezeyeri.com/sohbetodalari.html
Using computer vision technology to extract valuable insights from images and videos has been an absolute game-changer for me! The ability to analyze and interpret visual data with such precision and accuracy is truly mind-blowing. It's like having a superpower that allows me to see beyond the surface and uncover hidden patterns and trends, check for more on https://crossover99.com/2023/12/28/how-to-use-computer-vision-for-valuable-insights-from-images-and-videos/ . The experience of using computer vision is both empowering and exhilarating, as it opens up a whole new world of possibilities for understanding and interpreting visual information. I can't imagine going back to traditional methods after experiencing the sheer efficiency and effectiveness of computer vision technology. It's a truly transformative tool that has revolutionized the way I approach image and…
التعليم الروحي تحت إشراف شيخ روحاني
تحت إشراف شيخ روحاني، يمكن للأفراد الاستفادة من دروس ودورات تعليمية تهدف إلى تعزيز الفهم الروحي والديني. تشمل هذه الدروس مواضيع متنوعة مثل تفسير القرآن، الحديث الشريف، الفقه، والعقيدة. من خلال هذه الدروس، يمكن للأفراد بناء قاعدة معرفية قوية تساعدهم في تحقيق النمو الروحي.
إن التعليم الروحي تحت إشراف شيخ روحاني لا يقتصر على المعرفة النظرية فقط، بل يشمل أيضًا التطبيق العملي للقيم والمبادئ الدينية في الحياة اليومية. هذا يساعد الأفراد على تحقيق توازن بين الحياة الروحية والمادية، مما يساهم في تحقيق السعادة والرضا الداخلي.
دور شيخ روحاني في حل المشكلات الروحية والنفسية
يواجه العديد من الأفراد مشكلات روحية ونفسية تؤثر على حياتهم اليومية. يقوم شيخ روحاني بدور المستشار والمرشد في مثل هذه الحالات، حيث يقدم النصائح…
Are you looking for a reliable translation agency? As a highly reliable translation agency, we are here to help. We offer a comprehensive range of professional translation services to meet your different needs. Whether it is general translation or sworn translation, specialist translation or notarized translation, we meet all your needs.